NORMAN HAYNES BAND - DEN OF INIQUITY - 1971 (UK) heavy progressive

This album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, and engineered by Peter Brown in the spring of 1971.
Norman Haines is a great keyboard player, whose playing style and sound is simular to Caravans 'David Sinclair', or Rarebirds 'Graham Feild', and even Egg's 'Dave Stewart' at times. The latter, especially on the track 'Life Is So Unkind'.
This is some fairly decent British rock, with melodies reminiscent of the 'Beat' era at times, the song 'Finding My Way Home' for instance.
The band was comprised of: Norman Haines(Keyboards/vocals), Neil Clarke(guitar), Andy Hughes(bass/vocals), & Jimmy Skidmore(drums).
Prior to making his one and only LP, he was a member of the Birmingham band 'Locomotive', playing keyboards & vocals with them from '67-'70.
Basically this album is like a heavier version of 'Locomotive'.
The album merges several styles, from heavy all out distorted 'Mike Ratledge' type keyboards, with bluesy guitar, to a beautiful acoustic folk number.
There are even a couple great tunes where a horn section is used, and brings to mind 'Locomotive', or even the band 'The Greatest Show On Earth'.
If you combined the 'Edgar Broughton Band', 'Rare Bird', 'Steamhammer MK II', and 'Fat Mattress' maybe this is what you'd get.
If I had to say something negative about this album it would be quite difficult, though along with a few bands from this time period, the 'Norman Haines Band' also had some trouble finding a sound uniquely their own at times, which is why my rating doesn't warrant a 4.
CD through a Russian label called PROG, and they have quite an extensive catelogue of old rarities. They're all reissued in mini LP replica type sleeves, and the sound qaulity is superb.
The album cover artwork is one of the strangest I've seen also!

1. Den Of Iniquity 4:32
2. Finding My Way Home 3:23
3. Everything You See (Mr. Armageddon) 4:34
4. When I Come Down 3:56
5. Bourgeois 2:59
6. Rabbits 13:03
7. Life Is So Unkind 8:03
8. Elaine 4:34
9. I Really Need A Friend 3:41
10. Daffodil 3:50
11. Autumn Mobile 3:31
12. Give To You Girl 2:52

Recommended!

Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)

Download links
http://link-protector.com/268310/
http://link-protector.com/268311/